Drilling apparatus



sept. 4, 1934.' EQ WHINNEN 1,972,635

DRILLING APPARATUS F5 led Jan. 5, 1932 y 2 Sheets-Sheet l a@ d@ l F194. 1

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Sept. 4, 1934. E. wHlNNEN 1,972,535

DRILLING' APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patentedv Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED srArE-s PATENT OFFICE DRILLING APPARATUS Eugene Whinnen, Republic, Mich., asslgi'nor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 5, 1932, Serial No. 584,829

13 Claims. (Cl. 254-139) Ii This invention relates to drilling apparatus to grip the rod line to hold the rodA line at and more particularly to improvements in concertain times against downward movement withtrolling mechanism for the rod line of a drilling in the well, this safety clamp being of the same apparatus of the oil and gas well type. general design as that disclosed in a co-pending 6 An object of this invention is to provide imapplication of Harry C. Johansen, Ser. No. 563,- 30 proved rod line controlling mechanism for an 597, led September 18, 1931, now matured into oil and gas well drilling apparatus. Another Patent No. 1,924,436, granted August 29, 1933. object is to provide an improved mechanism The usual hoisting tackle of the drilling apparafor controlling the rod line in the drill hole tus isindicated at 11 and the hook of the travell when relatively high subterranean pressure is ing block is indicated at 12. Connected as by 35 encountered during the drilling operation. A eyebolts 13, 13 to the derrick floor 2 are snatch further object is to provide an improved rod blocks 14,14. Suspended from the catlne tie 15 line snubbing device fOr moving the rod line of the catlne 16 of the drilling apparatus is the into the drill hole and withdrawing the rod line improved rod line snubbing device generally l5 from the hole while subjected to relatively high designated 17, the catlne tie being connected 70 subterranean pressure. Yet another object is .within suitable eyes 18, 18 attached to the frame to provide an improved rod line snubbing device 19 of the snubbing device. Also connected withhaving improved rod gripping means and imin the eyes 20, 20 attached to the opposite ends proved means for operating the gripping means of the snubber frame is a. snubbing line 21,

29 from the derrick iloor. These and other uses this snubbing line being guided by the snatch 75 and advantages of this invention will, however, blocks 14, 14 and engagingthehook 12 of the hereinafter more fully appear. hoisting tackle in the manner showin in Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown Now referring to the specic construction of for purposes of illustration one f orm which the the snubbing device 17, it will be noted that the invention may assume in practice. frame 19 comprises a body 22 having rigidly at- 80 In these drawings: tached thereto oppositely projecting I-beams 23,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing1 the ll- 23. Formed in the body 22 is a chamber 24 havlustrative embodiment of the improved rod line ing mounted therein a plurality of wedgesnubbing device and its associated mechanism. shaped jaws or slips 25, herein four in number.

30 Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view These jaws are maintained in their released or 85 of the improved rod line snubbing device. spread apart position by coil springs 26 inter- Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the snubbing posed between the jaws as shown in Fig. 6. device shown in Fig. 2. These jaws are each grooved at 27, and engaged Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken subin these grooves is a shifter collar 28 having 36 stantially on line 4-4 of Fig.- 3. trunnions 29 pivotally vconnected to a shifter 90 Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken yoke 30. 'I'his yoke is pivotally connected at 31 substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. to a bracket 32 attached to the bottom of the Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal sectional view adjacent I-beam 23 and carries at its outer end taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. an eye 33 to which there is connected an op- 40 In this illustrative embodiment of the-invenerating or jerk line 34. Pivotally connected 95 tion the well derrick is indicated at 1 and the to the trunnions 29 of the shifter collar at opderrick oor. at 2. Arranged beneath the derrick posite sides of the jaw body 22 as shown in Fig. floor is a combined rod brake and oil saver 3 5 are eye bolts 35 guided within perforated mounted at the top of the well casing 4 and havears formed on the Jaw body and normally held '45 ing suitablebrake operating means 5. The in their lraised position by coil springs 36. 100

combined rod brake and oil saver is of the same These eye bolts and springs normally maintain general type as that disclosed in a co-pending the Jaws 25 intheir upper gripping position. application of Joseph S.A Mitchell, Ser. No. Secured to the shifter yoke 30 is a guide plate 350,350, filed Mar. 27, 1929, now matured into 37 having formedthereina slot 38 inwhich is Patent No. 1,916,278, granted July 4, 1933. Exguideda `pin l39 carried by. a pivoted latch 40. 105

tendingdownwardly through an opening 6 in This latchy is pivotedat 41 on'a bracket 42 atthe derrick floor and through the stumng box I tachedk to the bottom of the adjacent I-beamjy of the oil saver. is 'a ush Jointedrod line `8.` 23 of the snubbingframe. Formed at one end Mounted on the derrick floor above the oil of the slot 38 is a notch 43, and whenythe shiftsaver is av safety clamp 9 having slips 10 adapted er yoke is its lowermost position as indicated no in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the pin 39 of the latch drops into the notch 43 to maintain the shifter yoke and gripping jaws in their lowermost released position. This latch may be released simply by pulling quickly downwardly on the operating line 3d to cause the pin 39 to jump out of the notch 43.

In handling a flush jointed drill rod line in and out of the drill hole while subjected to relatively high subterranean pressure, the rod brake 3 is employed for locking and holding the rod line in a fixed position so that it cannot move either upwardly or downwardly in the hole..

However, owing to the more or less irregularity of the exterior surface of the rod line, the rod brake cannot be used to ease or slowly move l the rod line out of the hole or into the hole while subjected to pressure. For instance, if

the rod line were being withdrawn from the holev and there were only several hundred feet of line remaining to be withdrawn, and the pressure in the hole were relatively high, the rod line might be held in xed position in the hole by the rod brake 3, but if it were attempted to ease ofi the brake and allow the pressure in the hole to torce the rod line out, it would be necessary to release the brake sufiiciently to allow the rod line to move therethrough; and if this were done, the rod line would be liable to jump upwardly for several hundred feet out of the hole before it could again be stopped. To prevent such rapid movement or jumping of the rod line, the improved snubbingdevice 17 is provided. Let it be assumed that the rod line is being withdrawn from the hole under high subterranean pressure and that several feet of the rod line extends above the derrick floor as shown in Fig. 1. The snubbing device is at this time suspended by the catline 16 of the drilling apparatus with the snubbing line 21 looped over the hook 12 of the hoisting tackle. The snubbing device is then lowered by paying out the catline 16, and when the snubbing device is positioned'above the upper end of the rod line, the operator pulls on the operating line 34 to release the jaws 25, thereby enabling the snubbmg device to be slipped down over the rod line. When the snubbing device is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the operator releases the operating line 34 and the jaws 25 then engage the rod line. The hoisting tackle is then operated and the traveling block together with the hook 12 Ais slowly raised until all of the slack has been removed from the snubbing line 21. The rod brake 3, which at this time has been holding the rod line in the well, is then released and the pressure in the well then forces the rod line upwardly and as a result, the jaws of the snubbing device tightly grip the rod line. The snubber is held down by the snubbing line passing over the hook on the traveling block, however, and the rod line therefore cannot move out of the hole. The hoisting hook 12 is then slowly lowered, allowingthe pressure in the well to force the rod line out of the hole under the control of the snubbing device.- 'Ihe length of the snubbing line is such that the desired length floor.

of rod line can be snubbed out before the hook on the traveling block reaches the derrick This may be either a single section of rod line or a double-section, as desired. When the desired length of rod line has beenwithdrawn from the hole, the rod brake is then again set to hold the rod line against movement in the hole. and the rod sections at the upper end amasar;

of the rod line are removed and the snubbing vdevice again connected to the upper end of the Conversely, if it is desired to force the rod line into the hole, this may be accomplished by slacking up on the catline 16 while the hook 12 of the traveling block is raised upwardly, thereby causing the snubbing device, together with the rod line, to be forced downwardly against the opposing subterranean pressure by power sufficiently to overcome the pressure. The jaws 25 of the snubbing device may be released at will simply by pulling on the operating line 34 to move the shifter yoke into its lowermost position, the shifter yoke being held in this position by the latch 40. The safety clamp 9 is employed for preventing downward movement of the rod line in the well when the pressure in the well suddenly drops, or for suspending the rod line in the well when the subterranean pressure is relatively low.

. As a result of this invention it will be noted that an improved rod line controlling mechanism is provided whereby the rod line of an oil and gas well drilling apparatus may be moved into and out of the hole under constant control while subjected to relatively high subterranean pressure. It will further be noted that an improved rod line snubbing device is provided, of an extremely simple and rugged design and having improved operating means whereby the snubbing jaws may be operated from the derrick floor. These and other uses and advantages of the improved rod line controlling mechanism will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specically described 'one form which this invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes'of illustration and that the invention may be modied and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope oi' the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettersv Patent is:

1. In a drilling apparatus, the combination with a well derrick, hoisting tackle and catline, of a rod snubbing device suspended from the catline and operatively connected to the hoisting- I said snatch blocks and also engaging the hook o f the hoisting tackle whereby said snubbing device may be controlled by said hoisting tackle, and

lofi

means operable independently of said snubbing line for releasing said gripping means.

3. In a drilling apparatus, the combination with a well derrick, hoisting tackle and catline, of a rod line snubbing device suspended from said catline and connected to said hoisting tackle whereby said snubbing device may be controlled by said hoisting tackle, said snubbing device having rod line gripping means, and

means for operating said gripping means from the derrick floor.

4. In a drilling apparatus, the combination with a well derrick, hoisting tackle and catline, of a rod snubbing device suspended from the catline above the derrick fioor and operatively connected to the hoisting tackle whereby said snubbing device may be controlled by the hoisting tackle of the drilling apparatus, and means operable from the derrick floor for controlling said snubbing device.

5. In a drilling apparatus, the combination witha well derrick, hoisting tackle and catline, of a rod snubbing device suspended from the catline above the derrick oor and including operating means operatively connected to the hoisting tackle whereby the snubbing device may be controlled by the hoisting tackle of the drilling apparatus, said snubbing device operating means including a, double `loop cable connection having end portions connected to the snubbing device and an intermediate portion engaging the hoisting tackle, said snubbing device also includingV rod gripping meansrand means operable independently of said cable connection for releasing said gripping means.

6. In a drilling apparatus, the combination with a well derrick, hoisting tackle and catline, of a rod snubbing device suspended from the catline above the derrick floor and including operating' means operatively connected to the hoisting tackle whereby the snubbing Y`device may be controlled by the hoisting tackle of the drilling apparatus, said snubbing device operating means including a double loop cable connection having end portions connected to the snubbing device and an intermediate portion engaging the hoisting tackle, and pulleys attached to the derrick floor with which said loop portions respectively cooperate, said snubbing device also including rod gripping means, and means operable independently of said cable connection for releasing said gripping means.

7. In a drilling apparatus, the combination with a well derrick, hoisting tackle and catline,

of a rod snubbing device suspended from the catline and operatively connected to the hoisting tackle for operation thereby, said snubbing device including a frame, rod gripping means on said frame, connections on said frame adapted for engagement with the catline tie, and a double loop cable connection having engagement with connectionson said' frame at the outer ends thereof and having its intermediate portion engaged by the hoisting tackle, said cable connection connected to said frame independently of said gripping means.

8. In a drilling apparatus, the combination with a well derrick and hoisting tackle, of a rod line snubbing device connected to said hoisting tackle whereby said snubbing device may be controlled by said hoisting tackle, said snubbing device having rod line gripping means and movable with the rod line into positions a substantial distance above the derrick floor .and out of the reach of an operator standing on the derrick floor, and means operable at will for operating said gripping means from the derrick floor irrespective of the position of said snubbing device with respect thereto and including an operating member extending from said snubbingdevice to a point within the reach of the operator.

9. In a drilling apparatus, the combination -and means 'operable at will from the -bing device including a with a well derrick and hoisting tackle, of a rod snubbing device arranged above the derrick oor and operatively connected to the hoisting tackle whereby said snubbing device may be controlled by the hoisting tackle of the drilling apparatus, said device being engageable with a rod a substantial distance above the derrick floor and out of the reach of an operator standing on the derrick floor, and means operable at will from thederrick licor and including an operating element extending downwardly from said snubbing device to a point within the reach of the operator for controlling said snubbing de- V1Ce.

10. In a drilling apparatus, the combination with a well derrick and hoisting tackle, of a rod snubbing device operatively connected to the -hoisting tackle whereby said snubbing device may be controlled by the hoisting tackle of the drilling apparatus, said' snubbing device including rod gripping means, snatch blocks connected to the derrick floor, a snubbing line operatively connected to said snubbing device and engaging said snatch blocks and also engaging the hook of the hoisting tackle whereby said snubbing device maybe controlledby said hoisting tackle, derrick floor for releasing said gripping means.

- 11. In a drilling apparatus, the combination with a rod snubbing device arranged above the `derrick floor and including operating means operatively connected to the hoisting tackle whereby the snubbing device may be controlled by the hoisting tackle of the drilling apparatus, said snubbing device operating means including a double loop connection having end portions connected to the snubbing device and an intermediate portion engaging the hoisting tackle, said snubbing device including rod gripping means, and-means 115 operable at will from the derrick oor for re-- leasing said gripping means.

12. In a drilling apparatus, the combination with a well derrick and hoisting tackle, of a rod snubbing device arranged above the derrick oor and including operating means operatively connected to the hoisting tackle whereby the snubbing device may be controlled by the hoisting tackle of the drilling apparatus, said snubbing device operating means including a double loop cable connection having end portions connected to the snubbing device and an intermediate portion engagingthe hoisting tackle, and pulleys attached to the derrick floor with which said loop portions respectively cooperate, said snubbing device including rod gripping means, and means operable at will from the derrick floor for releasing said gripping means.

13. Ina drilling apparatus, the combination with a well derrick and 'hoisting tackle, of a rod snubbing device operatively connected to the hoisting tackle for operation thereby, said snubframe, a rod gripping means on'said frame, a double' loop cable con- 140 nection having engagement with connections on said frame at thel outer ends thereof and having its intermediate portion engaged by the hoisting tackle, and means operable at will from the derrick door for releasing said rod gripping means.

EUGENE WHIINNEN.

well derrick and hoisting tackle, of a 105' 

